HOW I MADE THE MANTRA GO AWAY

one of our readers has sent us his TM story:

HOW I MADE THE MANTRA GO AWAY

by Dave H.

When I tell my friends that I once was involved with a cult, their eyes get wide and their response is generally, “You?” And then they want the details.

So I tell them that I was one of those people who got caught up in Transcendental Meditation when it was sweeping the U.S.A. in the 60s and 70s. I explain the initial meetings, the Puja ceremony, the post initiation checking meetings, etc. I even tell them that for awhile, TM actually brought me some benefit.

I was never one of those uber-movement types, although I did attend a residence course or two in Fairfield, Iowa, where I was introduced to “rounding” and the whole TM thing took further root. Had I not awakened, I could have easily been drinking the Kool-aid.

Then MMY announced that we could all learn to levitate and the Sidhis program was launched. The shock of it forced me to examine what I had become involved with and thankfully, the critical thinking I had learned in college began to kick in. Levitating? Becoming invisible? How could I belong to an organization that advanced such thinking and demanded high fees for the “knowledge?”

I immediately stopped doing TM and promised myself I would never think my mantra, “Shirim,” again.

But it wouldn’t go away. For over a decade that pesky mantra would creep into my thoughts: waking, sleeping, dreaming. At first I gave it no notice, just shutting it off whenever it would appear. But after many, many years of putting up with it, combined with all of the wacky stuff coming out of the TM movement, its continued presence became a major concern for me. I wanted it gone.

I consulted with a therapist, a very capable person, but not experienced in cults. He suggested that I pretty much do what I had been doing, shut it off when it showed up in my thoughts. But that was not good enough for me.

I live in a very beautiful part of Southeast Minnesota, an area with 300-foot bluffs and an incredible paved bicycle trail system. One weekday summer morning I walked out a couple of miles on the trail. Not many people out there that early in the morning. I stopped on a bridge and decided to shout Shirim as loud and as many times as I could. It was strange how guilty I felt for even thinking about doing this. Guilt and fear manifested themselves, as if something really bad would happen to me. That’s how deeply the movement hooks had gotten into my psyche. 

But I did it. I shouted that mantra out into the light of day, loud, clear and often. Then I came back a couple of days later and repeated the experience. And then a third time.

It didn’t happen overnight, but after a couple of weeks I noticed that the mantra and I were no longer joined at the hip, and its encroachment into my life began to diminish. And today, it doesn’t show up at all.

When I read of all the junk that the true-believers in the TM movement accept as truth … Jyotish, Yagyas, Sidhis and such … I am so blessed to have my once-abandoned critical thinking skills and pleased that the mantra no longer has power over me.

And all I had to do was shout it into the atmosphere.

Please share your experiences with Yagyas

Sometimes when I read TM-sponsored websites, I come across glowing testimonials of the marvelous results of Maharishi Yagyas.  These testimonials are so euphoric that I think they act to reinforce the hypnotic belief system of Maharishi.  Therefore, I think it would be therapeutic for those of us trying to recover from "Maheshism" (Maharishi's belief system) to get to hear the other side of the story - of all the times the yagyas failed to work.

Therefore, I am putting out a request to readers of TM-Free Blog who have purchased Maharishi Yagyas (or who know someone who has purchased them), where the results were disappointing.  Please tell us in the comments section as much as you feel comfortable sharing -- perhaps how much you paid, what they promised, what you requested, what results you got, and anything else that you are interested in writing about the experience.

Thank you! 

Regarding Maharishi Yagyas®

(Please note:  This website does not promote, encourage, approve of, recommend, or support the purchase of or the value of "Maharishi Yagyas."  This article is written solely for the purpose of education and discussion. - Laurie)


A friend of TM-Free Blog recently showed me an email he received on January 12, 2014 from one of the branches of the TM organization (TMO).  The email starts with the title "Maharishi Vedic Pandits Creating World Peace."  Excerpts from the email follow:

"We are delighted to...announc[e] a highly beneficial, affordable and exciting expansion to the Yagya program for individuals and families - the Maharishi Special Yagya Program."

My comment:  This seems to me like deceptive advertising.  Where is the proof that the yagyas are "highly beneficial"?  And why do they call these yagyas "affordable"?  I clicked around, and found that they cost from $1,000 to $10,000 apiece.

"Maharishi designed a beautiful series of Special Yagyas for important times in life: Birthdays, Weddings, Wedding Anniversaries, and for the Birth of a Child."

They say "Maharishi designed" them.  Well, Maharishi has been dead for several years, but they're only being advertised this year.  So did he design them after he died?  Or, if he designed them during his lifetime - for the benefit of humanity - why are they only being made available now?  Also, Maharishi freely admitted that he knew only a little Sanskrit.  If so, how could he design Sanskrit rituals?  So what's going on?  Personally, I believe that someone else designed them, but is attributing them to Maharishi because that gives them more credibility.  

The yagyas are called "beautiful," but since donors are not present when these rites are performed, we'll have to take the TMO's word for it.  Also, we'll have to take the TMO's word that these rituals are being performed at all.

"These Special Yagyas bring the blessings of Nature to individuals and families at transitional times when specific, supportive Laws of Nature are particularly lively and accessible...."

Here we have several unscientific and undefined phrases which however have strong emotional resonance.  This style of writing circumvents scientific inquiry, since science requires terms to be defined.  Evocative phrases include "blessings of Nature," "specific, supportive Laws of Nature" and "particularly lively and accessible."

"All funds from this program support the large group of Maharishi Vedic Pandits, which is bringing peace, affluence and harmony to our world...."

According to Wikipedia, in  January 2014 there were 41 armed conflicts on earth.  In 2012, there were 905 natural catastrophes  which resulted in approximately $200,000,000 USD worth of damage.  So to me it seems inaccurate to state that the Pandits are bringing "peace, affluence and harmony" to our world.

But to backtrack, you may be asking, "What is the Maharishi Yagya program?"  Here is the answer, from maharishiyagya.org.

 "...the remedial measures one can take to avert problems seen in the birth chart to be coming to the individual.  It is a practical means to help protect us from unwanted influences - such as illness, accidents or loss; and also to support positive influences.  Regular Maharishi Yagya performances help maintain life in balance.

..Maharishi Vedic Astrology expert has seen something in the birth chart; and it's destined for the person.  But some influence could be created to change that destiny - and that's the Maharishi Yagya program...." 

More evocative and undefined phrases.  The above quote sort of explains what a Maharishi Yagya supposedly does.  But it doesn't explain what a Maharishi Yagya is.  Other TMO sites explain that it is a TMO-style Sanskrit chant plus ceremony performed by one or more TMO-trained Indian men.  The many TMO websites are vague, but apparently each yagya takes one day or less. TMO literature clearly states that the more money you spend on your yagya, the more powerful its effect.  They also strongly urge the customer to buy the most expensive yagya one can afford.

How much money is the TMO earning from this program?  A TMO email from December 18, 2013 states that:

"...the National Yagya program is now averaging (i.e., receiving donations of - Laurie) $429,000 USD per month....The whole world is enjoying the blessings of the daily performance...."

That's $5,148,000 a year income for the "National Yagya program" alone.  (The TMO says that the National Yagya program -- that is, the 350 Indian men in Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa who live in pre-fabricated, under-heated homes and earn $100-200/month apiece -- costs $600,000 a month to run.  I'm not sure why it should cost that much.  Anyone have any ideas?)  And there are many other "Maharishi Yagya" programs, which also bring in money for the TMO.

The announcement/advertisement for this new yagya program states that:

"the oral tradition of Vedic chanting has been declared an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO."  (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization - Laurie).  

This sounds impressive, but by now I always double-check anything the TMO says.  So I researched the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" UNESCO project.  Their website states that their list of intangible cultural heritages is made up of those "elements that help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance."  From 2008-2013, 282 intangible heritages were listed by UNESCO.  Aside from yagyas, other examples of "intangible heritages" included woodcrafting in Madagascar, textile art of Peru, ox-herding traditions of Costa Rica, and Sardinian pastoral songs of Italy.
  
By the way, payment for these yagyas is legally designated as a "donation," and donations are tax deductible for U.S. tax payers.  All U.S. non-profits must make public their finances, and the financial audit can be found at www.vedicpandits.org/pdf/BSF-Audited-Financial Statement-12-31-2011.pdf.

T.M. in Yoga Journal, March/April 2001

Just for fun, I'm sharing with you the results of my spring cleaning.  This week I was going through old magazines, and picked this issue at random to browse through.  Wow!  Maybe it was a slow month at Yoga Journal, because they sure filled up a lot of space with T.M. related stuff.  Maybe the T.M. organization (TMO) public relations department sent out a bunch of "infomercials" (advertisements disguised as news items.)

Here's what I found:

1.  Paid advertisement: "America's Premier Ayur Veda Health Center - Maharishi Vedic Medicine at the Raj. Offering medically supervised programs based on….."  It included a testimonial: "I decided to try The Raj to avoid a lung transplant. It saved my life. Today I can converse without coughing, my heartburn is gone…."

[Since this is the TMO I'm dealing with, I googled the patient's name.  For what it's worth, I found her obituary - she had died of cancer seven years after the advertisement, at the age of 71.  She was treated at The Raj for something other than cancer.  - Laurie]

2.   News note: "A recent study found that ancient Vedic healing techniques….Four patients suffering from diabetes, sarcoidosis, hypertension and Parkinsons….Three weeks of Maharishi Vedic Medicine which incorporates diet, herbs, purification, yoga, T.M., Vedic sound therapy," ["Vedic sound therapy" is the term the article used for chanting - Laurie] and "yaghyas" (sic) which were defined in the article as "a Vedic therapy for restoring the harmony between an individual and the cosmos."   "….Over 18 months, many of the symptoms were reduced and some were even able to lower or discontinue medication. Source: Behavioral Medicine 2000; 26: 34-46."

3. Health article: "Allergy Alert: Stop Sneezing with these Herbal Remedies….Medical Director of Raj Maharishi Ayur-Ved Health Center in Fairfield, Iowa…imbalance of kapha dosha…Director of Research for Maharishi Ayur-Ved Products International says…."

4.  Paid advertisement: "Experience the Youthful Skin Transformation. Our Youthful Skin(™) line contains potent, natural-sourced….$26.95 for sample pack (4-step regimen of 4 lotions)."

5.   Health article: "Bathe in the Elements: Ayurveda prescribes cleansing your body in water, air, earth, fire and space….Ayurvedic 'bathing'….For example, 'an air bath…of deep breathing and focused awareness of the breath…bathes the lungs…,' says a visiting consultant at The Raj, an ayurvedic health center in Fairfield, Iowa…."

6.   News note:  "The Beatles Anthology.…Some consider the Fab Four's personal friendship with the Maharishi to be an early inspiration for the popular rise of yoga and meditation in the West."

7.  First-person story:  This one had no mention of T.M., but it ended with this paragraph, which, considering the heartbreak that sometimes results from following Maharishi, seemed to me ironically  apropros:

"Don't bow down to just a man," [a local guru  - Laurie]  I reply.  "Instead, bow down to your own Self that you recognize inside him.  Then bowing down to him is no different than bowing down before your own higher nature."  My student finally did choose to bow down.  Afterward, he looked relieved.  That's one of the opportunities that gurus provide:  They give us a chance to put aside our selfishness and replace it with surrender and service."

  

Pandits for (non)Profit

Essay 3 of a 3-part Series.
The first in this series may be read  here - Pandits in Captivity.
The second essay may be read here - CPs : Course Participants or Captive Pandits.

The TM Organization focuses upon FUNDRAISING for Pandits, while promising magic. Despite TM's assertion, there is no evidence that Pandits' impact global harmony. After years of fundraising for world peace through chanting Pandits, neither Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace nor other TM nonprofits disclose finances related to these captive Indians.

In a recent TM Organization announcement, Raja (Dr.) John Hagelin encourages donations to support an 11-day national Yagya (prayer ceremony) to begin on September 19, 2012. The final date for payment for this particular yagya was to be September 13. For of a mere $1,250, a donor could designate someone to be named during the performance.

The message flatters donors for TM Pandits’ prayer ceremonies, “As a direct result of the generosity and vision of our donors, the Maharishi National Yagya program has grown into a powerful force for America.”

Hagelin credits the Pandits' Yagyas with Iowa’s summer rains, and for redirecting this summer’s Hurricane Isaac : 

“A few people have asked about Isaac. Originally forecast to be a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, it only reached Category 1. While the storm produced flooding in some of the most vulnerable areas, the City of New Orleans was largely spared.” 

“The rain’s subsequent northward march provided welcome relief to some of the most drought-stricken areas of the country. When national invincibility is more firmly established, we can anticipate even greater protection against national disasters.”

Some True Believers continue to donate to these campaigns, otherwise why would the TM Movement continue to send such messages?

Deemed-scientific correlation between the Pandits and selective good news is as logical as Laurie’s (of TMFree) correlation that 99% of murderers begin their life drinking milk; thus milk leads to murdering.

Hagelin’s message continues, “We are on the verge of realizing Maharishi’s desire of 30 years. The generosity of our donors has brought us to this place. With your support, we will soon have the Super Radiance community we have worked so hard to build.”

Hagelin updates about plans to grow Pandit population  :

“  * 556 Pandits now have passports, and 541 have completed their visa applications.
   * The first phase of the kitchen expansion to accommodate the new Pandits has been completed, and the next phase is well underway.
   * More than 1/3 of the funds needed to bring all 556 Pandits to the U.S. has been raised.
   * The arrival of these Pandits will secure the daily Super Radiance numbers in Fairfield and Maharishi Vedic City at more than 2,000. Closing in on the Goal” 

Another recent fundraising email from Stan Crowe earlier this summer declared,“a special 11-day National Yagya performance beginning on Guru Purnima, July 3. We chose this date to honor our beloved Maharishi on this most auspicious day, the day of the Guru. The Yagya will also coincide with America’s Independence Day, July 4.”

Donations are designated for “Increased harmony, peace, invincibility and prosperity for the nation and its citizens; AND increasing the number of Pandits in Maharishi Vedic City to our desired goal as quickly as possible.”

Having failed to create a permanent community of 2000 people practicing Maharishi’s TM-Sidhi program twice daily in MUM’s golden domes, In 2001 Maharishi decided to offer donors the opportunity to sponsor others to meditate for them. The sponsorship concept already existed on a smaller scale in the TM Movement. It used to be common practice for those with less funds to seek sponsorships, often arranged as tax deductible donations, to attend advanced TM courses. Wealthy TMers also often sponsored the celibate participants on the Purusha  or Mother Divine programs for tax deductions, personal glory, and good karma.

Since 1979's first "World Peace Assembly" in Amherst Massachusetts, Maharishi and the TM Movement promoted the idea that a small percentage of the population could influence world peace, weather, crime and the economy through group meditation. This would create "The Maharishi Effect" to bring heaven on earth, or so Maharishi and the organization's retroactive selective studies claimed.

As Sudarsha suggested in a private message, this goal is as scientific as shooting a blank wall, then drawing a target circle around the spot you hit.

The goal of changing the world was and is used to inspire, or pressure, TM-Sidhi practitioners to devote their lives and funds to Maharishi's plans. This also feeds the narcissism of people who would believe their thoughts alone are powerful enough to influence government decisions and weather patterns.

Since that course in 1979 (Yes, I was there) Maharishi and his minions such as Bevan Morris, John Hagelin and others have long  threatened Maharishi's followers with global warfare and other calamities unless a core group of at least 2000 people practiced Maharishi’s TM-Sidhi Program together twice daily.

For example, in 1979 Bevan Morris pulled me aside for a private audience in a small dark room, saying someone had reported me to him for not attending Program as prescribed. Bevan said that I personally would be responsible for bringing WWIII or economic collapse to the world because I did not fully participate in "Program" many hours daily. In response I said that motherhood and supporting my family took precedence over group meditations, that my family is my Program. I told Bevan that Maharishi did not have children, so he didn't understand families. Bevan excused me, seemingly without officially black-listing me. Others tell similar stories of intimidation and threats for their non-participation in program, or if they requested permission to leave.

In the early 1980's Maharishi claimed that donations to support participants on the celibate Purusha and Mother Divine programs would bring financial prosperity, health and speed enlightenment for donors. In fact, my (then)husband wanted us to tithe 10% of our income to support his former girlfriend on the Mother Divine course. They had attended and graduated together in 1981 from Maharishi International University. She was a sweet young woman, who vigilantly 'put her attention' on my husband's business daily and wrote us newsy letters about Maharishi's latest inspirations. The young woman's prolonged meditations did not enhance our economic status. My (then) husband often blamed his business problems on the bad karma that I brought to his business because I did not attend “Program” (6-8 hours) daily. This was a prevalent community attitude at that time.

Per their own counts, the TM Movement repeatedly fails to realize the mystical 2000 meditator/Sidhas for twice-daily Program attendance. Other TMers must be making similar choices about responsibilities,  personal and family needs, thereby decreasing Program attendance.

To solve this problem, Maharishi came up with the  brilliant idea of raising funds to import professional meditators from India. This idea was proposed as early as November 2001.

Note : Maharishi's idea is FUNDRAISING for Pandits, not to really improve the world through mystical practices.

In January 2002, after coming out of his annual silent retreat to begin the new year, Maharishi proposed that for a mere $250 Million, the world’s problems could be solved by establishing a permanent community with 10,000 Pandits. 

Maharishi's fundraising scheme to support a group of meditating Pandits provided, then and now, a means for TM's wealthy donors to assure spiritual good karma, enlightenment or entry to heaven by donating large sums of money for others meditate in their stead.

This is remarkably similar to the Medieval Catholicism when noblemen paid servants to make spiritual pilgrimages for them, thereby gleaning heavenly accolades for both the nobleman and the pauper who made the pilgrimage.

I doubt the Movement will attain the 2000 which they claim necessary for a Super Radiance effect. This dream is an eternal carrot-on-a-stick, never to be achieved. After all, the Movement would lose credibility with its followers if 2000 Pandits meditate twice daily, and the world inevitably continues with political travails, natural disasters, environmental carcinogens and economic vicissitudes.

Being a practical Guru, Maharishi established nonprofit corporations so that donors could receive tax deductions while profiting their Guru. Despite public perception, a "nonprofit" organization does not have to meet any ethical qualifications. The primary difference between a nonprofit corporation vs a for-profit is the stated purpose of the organization, how funds are dispersed and taxed. Nonprofits are allowed to generate revenue surpluses (er, that would be synonymous with ‘profit’).

Using threats of global collapse to fear-monger for Pandit donations in October, 2003, a national conference call quoted (still living) Maharishi "'The world would not completely end, there will be a few people left...You don't know how fast the destruction is approaching. Do it, go fast... 'Don't wait until tomorrow when the whole thing collapses. If you don't prevent this, don't blame us.'"

In 2003, the Program "8000 Now" was created to fundraise for a Pandit program. Their website cleverly does not initially reveal their true intentions, until one clicks about on various links.

TMFree readers may enjoy videos on the  "National Yagya Program" website. Among highlights, see Raja Dr. John Hagelin explain how important it is to “engage the power of natural law at a very deep level” through the performance of Yagyas to help Japan after their tsunami and nuclear crisis. Japan's Raja also reads aloud a letter of gratitude for Pandits he credits with helping Japan.. 

In his documentary film David Wants to Fly, David Seiveking interviews Earl Kaplan. Earl admits that he is not proud of his former TM-alliance and donations exceeding $150million to Maharishi. Earl also says he asked Maharishi about the promised Pandits; despite Earl's large donation for this purpose, none had been gathered together. Earl says that Maharishi told him "I don't know if it will work." In his former brainwashed state, Earl was shocked that his Guru had been recruiting for a cause that he was not sure would work. Earl, his twin brother David, and their wives then left the Movement.

In late October 2006, shortly after Howard Settle granted $600 per person monthly scholarship to hire pandits, up to one million dollars monthly, an initial group of Pandits arrived from India.  The Movement announced "A permanent group of 1,000 Maharishi Pandits has been established in America”. Photos here show TM Movement dignitaries  (note their requisite beige/gold themed suits) greeting Pandits at the airport, and chatting at the Pandits' welcome dinner.

Ostensibly, there are plans to bring enough Pandits for a permanent group creating a global Maharishi Effect of world peace, balanced economy, wealth, good weather, lush agriculture, and enlightenment for all!  
The Pandits are hired to save the world by meditating en masse.

For obscure reasons, the Movement still fails to have the requisite number of Pandits together. Looks like stalling tactics to me, to keep donations flowing.

For those with special needs and the ability to make tax deductible donations, the Organization states Pandits can customize mystical Yagya ceremonies for special purposes. Even my late-father had purchased several custom Yagyas for himself.

Lacking foresight, when the first Pandits arrived to Iowa in autumn of 2006, they lacked proper clothing for Iowa’s subzero winters. Local meditators in Fairfield and Vedic City created a coat drive to garner winter wear so these thin Indian men could survive their first subzero winter. Many Pandits had arrived from India to the United States with only simple kurtas and shawls.

One year after their arrival, Maharishi approved the provision of winter coats in October 2007, for the Pandits. Separate fundraising efforts were conducted to purchase these coats, 

Interestingly, Vedic City has an identity crisis about their Pandits.

Official Vedic City maps, provided by The Raj Spa's receptionist, do not identify the location of this fenced, guarded compound. Still, it’s easy enough to find. Just drive north in front of The Raj along Jasmine Ave., turn left, west, at 170th street at toward their touted luxury Rukmapura Park Hotel. The fenced Pandit compound is almost directly across 170th street from the hotel’s gravel driveway, conveniently outside the   official grid of Vedic City's Master Plan, at the intersection of 170th Street and  “Invincible America Ave.” 

While not listed among Vedic City's attractions, a small image of meditating Pandits appears in the upper banner of Vedic City’s website.

Vedic City wants tax benefits for the Pandits, according to a February 2011 story from Iowa’s Heartland Connection, channel 3 KTVO posted on February 17th "Can Census Make 1000 Iowans Disappear? ” 

Vedic City officials claim the US Census miscounted their residents, neglecting to include over one thousand residents of the pandit compound at 1675 Invincible America Drive. According to the 2001 Boundary and Annexation Survey file, the Pandit compound lies within Vedic City's boundaries.
  
Are the Pandits actually Iowans as claimed by KTVO news? Are they legal residents of Vedic City, Iowa and the USA? Are they guests, or students? Only their US State Department Visas know for sure. 

As expected by anyone familiar with the TM Movement, Vedic City claims or disavows the Pandit presence according to what is most advantageous at any given moment. 

“Funnily enough” (one of Maharishi’s phrases), 2010 tax returns for only one fundraising arm for the pandit and yagya donations can be viewed here - 2010 Exempt Organization Tax Return "Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation". And an overview of the financial status of Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace can be viewed here.

Transcendental Meditation Organizations keep separate legal and financial structures. Readers can glean a glimmer of this global organization by clicking on a few links and drop down menus on this site for Maharishi's Global Country or here for Peace Initiative Projects.

On a human note - One wonders if the fenced Pandits know their rights as foreign nationals within the United States. Human rights agencies queried in Chicago and elsewhere require a complaint filed by one of the Pandits themselves to initiate an investigation about unlawful restraint, confinement, or anything else. 

How would an imprisoned person, with neither English language fluency nor outside access, inquire for assistance or file a complaint?

Transcendental Meditation Wants YOUR Money for Religious Rituals

File this in your "Yes, We Are No Religion" folder, Episode IX—The Guru Strikes Out.

The TM Org is selling special Maharishi Yagya® performances "for the nation."

And they have a special deal for you in March! Just $1,250 to $100,000 each, while supplies last.

If you're not familiar with yagyas, known as yajñas in non-copyrighted Sanskrit, they are Hindu rituals to various gods that involve chanting mantras or verses from the Vedas as Hindu priests pour offerings into a sacrificial fire.

Examples include yagyas to Ganesh, to promote prosperity and removal of obstacles, to Lakshmi, for all forms of spiritual and material progress, and to Shiva, for health and immortality (invincibility), among others.

The TM Org has been selling yagyas, which one can have performed at any local Hindu temple, since at least 1997. For more information, here's my critical article on TM yagyas and here's what the TM Org chooses to reveal.

The Indian branch of the TM Org, led by the Maharishi's lifetime celibate nephew, Brahmchari Girish Verma, offers a little more detail.

(Take a second look at the picture. Doesn't Girish look exactly like the Maharishi? Here's hoping ruthless money-grubbing doesn't run in the Varma gene pool.)

The Indian movement is reported to be splitting with the TM Org based in Europe—taking the Maharishi family fortune with him. This may be triggering the panic the TM Org appears to be in to raise funds.

Here are relevant quotations from TM Admin:

Dear Friends,

Starting on the Day of Lasting Achievements (27th April, 2009) a series of Maharishi Yagya® performances began in India, requested by responsible citizens who have come forward to sponsor Maharishi Yagya performances for their nation. If you wish your country to be included in the Maharishi Yagya performances for the nation, you are invited to contribute to the new set of performances:

From 3rd March to 13th March 2010

.... Every contribution towards the Maharishi Yagya performances for nations is welcome. If your contribution meets a minimum level of $1250.00, your name will be included in the Sankalpa of the Maharishi Yagya performance....

Jai Guru Dev

©2010 Maharishi Vedic Foundation. All rights reserved.
® Maharishi Yagya is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Maharishi Jyotish and Maharishi Vedic are unregistered marks. All are used in the U.S. under license or with permission.

Following the link to the application form, one finds a very general discussion of the purposes of these "national" yagyas—with specific donation amounts suggested.

 $100,000  $50,000  $25,000  $10,000  $5,000  $2,500  $1,250  _______ Other (minimum $50.)

1) Promoting coherence in the national consciousness of the nation
2) Promoting affluence for the nation
3) Promoting invincibility for the nation
4) Radiating harmony and nourishing influences from the nation to every other nation in the world
5) Promoting peace and harmony in the nation
6) Helping to eliminate negativity and disharmony in the nation
7) Promoting Heaven on Earth in the nation
8) Promoting peace and prosperity in the nation
9) Helping to establish Consciousness-Based EducationSM in the nation
10) Promoting an ideal system of health in the nation
11) Promoting Maharishi Vedic Organic AgricultureSM in the nation
12) Promoting buildings according to Maharishi Vedic ArchitectureSM in the nation
13) Helping to create a fulfilling economy for the nation
14) Promoting an ideal system of defense for protecting the nation
15) Promoting total knowledge based science and technology for the nation
16) Promoting a frictionless communication system in the nation
17) Promoting an ideal system of administration in the nation
18) Helping to create religious harmony and cultural integrity in the nation
19) Promoting law and order in the nation
20) Promoting an ideal system of finance and planning in the nation
21) Promoting perfect health, fulfilling wealth and infinite wisdom for all people of the nation
22) Helping to fulfill Maharishi’s desires for the nation
23) To promote spiritual progress for your nation
24) Helping to bring the people of your nation in tune with Natural Law (Dharma)

If your contribution is $50,000 or more, you may formulate your own Maharishi Yagya purpose according to your desire. Please contact the Maharishi Jyotish and Maharishi Yagya programs office for details.

Money talks. Bullshit walks.

J.

Transcendental Meditation Wants YOU to Contribute for Hindu Rituals

Yet another anonymous contribution by a TMFB reader.

And yet more proof TM is no religion!

I'm having a hard time with the thought that the more the TM Organization publicizes and markets, the more readers TMFB will gain.

Note that, far from backing away from the Hindu Yagya (yajna) program, Transcendental Meditation is going high profile. Perhaps a reader can help me sort out the logic of that at the same time they are claiming not to be a religion in order to sneak TM into public schools?

National Maharishi Yagya^® Performances
to Create a Vedic Civilization in Your Country
Laying the Foundation for Heaven on Earth

Starting on the Day of Lasting Achievements (27th April, 2009) a series of Maharishi Yagya performances has begun in India, requested by responsible citizens who have come forward to sponsor National Maharishi Yagya performances for their country. If you wish your country to progress, you are invited to participate in creating an ideal Vedic civilization which brings peace, prosperity, health and happiness to all your people. One inspired individual may be enough to enlighten the whole country. For those countries that have found supporters new sets of National Maharishi Yagya performances commence on:

1. 23rd June to 3rd July 2009 (first set)
2. 9th July to 19th July 2009 (second set)

Contributing to the Maharishi Yagya performance makes you the instrument through which the effects of the Maharishi Yagya program flow to your country. This also makes you a participant in Maharishi’s global plan to create Heaven on Earth and gives you the rare opportunity to accumulate life-supporting effects for your own life in a more holistic way.


Vedic Civilization is based on both Knowledge and Action for Maximum Progress of Individual and Nation
Progress walks on two feet: rest and activity. The resting foot provides a firm basis on which the other foot can move ahead. The Transcendental Meditation program gives the experience of transcendental consciousness and provides deep rest to mind and body, which creates the basis for maximum and successful activity in ordinary waking state. As the mind is experiencing deeper and deeper levels of consciousness knowledge increases until, on the level of pure consciousness, total knowledge (the Veda) is cognized. It is the power of knowledge, Gyanshakti (Gyan = knowledge, Shakti = power) which pulls the mind in the inward direction, in a process that is automatic and spontaneous.

This level of total knowledge is the seat of all the Laws of Nature, which makes it a field of all possibilities. From this field of all possibilities action arises that manifests the next step of progress in accord with all the Laws of Nature. The outward direction of the mind is also automatic and spontaneous and is brought about by the power of action, Kriyashakti (Kriya = action, Shakti = power).


Maharishi’s Global Plan for an Ideal Administration is Based on both Gyanshakti and Kriyashakti

Maharishi has designed his ideal global administration in accordance with the Vedic principles for maximum progress and success, consisting of two branches representing Gyanshakti and Kriyashakti.

Maharishi’s global plan for an ideal administration is based on the establishment of large groups of Vedic Pandits who through their Vedic Yagya performances and their Yogic Flying enliven Gyanshakti, the power of knowledge, in world consciousness. To increase the effectiveness of these groups of Vedic Pandits, they will be placed in strategic points in India: In the Brahmasthan of India which is the center of India and the Global Capital of Raam Raj; in the twelve Jyotirlingas in India, the seats of Shiva, the eternal silence of pure consciousness; and in the 48 Brahmananda Saraswati Nagars that are connected with the 12 Jyotirlingas and which Maharishi has named in honor of his enlightened teacher, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati.. To further spread the power of knowledge, teams ofMaharishi Vedic SM Pandits covering all areas of Vedic knowledge—such as Yoga, Jyotish, Ayurveda, Sthapatya Veda, etc.—along with a bigger group of Maharishi Vedic Pandits skilled in Maharishi Yagya performances will be deployed in all the 192 countries around the world.

The Vedic knowledge enlivened by Gyanshakti, the power of knowledge, forms the basis on which Kriyashakti, the power of action, can build a Vedic civilization, every aspect of which is permeated by Vedic principles. For this purpose Maharishi has trained responsible and devoted citizens in Vedic principles and techniques and had them crowned as Rajas, the Vedic rulers of society. As his last wish Maharishi asked the Rajas for a gift, his Guru ‘Dakshin.’ He asked them to build Towers of Invincibility in every country—a home for Vedic Pandits, a home for Gyanshakti—where all areas of Vedic knowledge would be vibrant for all times to come. When Gyanshakti and Kriyashakti are both working together hand in hand and in mutual harmony, progress for the individual and for the nation is maximum, thereby creating Heaven on Earth.


An Invitation to Support your Country by Contributing to the National Maharishi Yagya Program
Every contribution is welcome. If your contribution meets a minimum level of $1,250.00, your name will be included in the Sankalpa of the Maharishi Yagya performance. In this case you may select one of the Maharishi Yagya performance purposes listed on the donation form to be part of the Sankalpa. Also, you may have the performance done for any country of your choice. The Maharishi Yagya performance purposes listed on the donation form are part of the National Maharishi Yagya program and do not require a Comprehensive Life Kundali or Maharishi Yagya performance recommendation.. They enhance life in a general way in the direction indicated by those purposes. However, they do not replace planetary Maharishi Yagya performances for the individual to protect one from harmful influences, or special Maharishi Yagya performances to promote specific desires. For such individual-specific purposes, please contact your national Maharishi Jyotish services coordinator or Maharishi Yagya program office. Please feel free to share this knowledge and forward this email to your relatives and friends. Anyone who would like to join the mailing list for the National Maharishi Yagya performances and other Maharishi Jyotish and Maharishi Yagya services can do so at this link: www.yagya.org
Jai Guru Dev

Maharishi Yagya Programs – Time Zone 10 Central States
(AL, AZ, AR, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, WI, WY)
Maharishi Yagya Programs – Time Zone 11 Western States
(AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)

530-877-8332 (phone)
530-327-7736 (fax)
MaharishiYagyaTZ11@Maharishi.net
(Outside the U.S.A. and Canada, please contact the Maharishi Yagya program’s international office in Switzerland at +4141-825-1525 phone, +4141-825-1526 fax,
Jyotish-yagya@maharishi.net email.)
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More Proof TM Is NOT a Religion

I usually just post my snide comment, "Yes, We Are No Religion!" But this is getting embarassing! I wonder if all those kids about to learn Transcendental Meditation in public schools will also get a special deal on TM-powered yagyas?

If you've never heard of a yagya, it is a Hindu ritual in which special mantras are said or thought by a Hindu Brahmin to specific gods to improve the life of the person paying for the ritual.

For instance, want wealth? You can buy a yagya from the TM Org to invoke goddess Lakshmi's grace. Want to remove an obstacle? The elephant-headed god, Ganesh, is your man. Sorrow or lack of spiritual progress? You need serpent-necklaced Shiva.

The TM Movement isn't the only place you can buy a yagya, however. Pretty much any Hindu temple will do one far cheaper. (Here's an interesting Web site selling yagyas.)

At any rate, here's a new email sent to the TM faithful urging them to purchase a yagya on an astrologically propitious date.

Perhaps I should change my comment to, "Yes, We Are No Science"?

Monday, April 27, 2009
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days in the Vedic calendar to start new initiatives and undertakings. It happens once a year about this time.
Jai Guru Dev

Akshaya Tritiya to Bring Lasting Achievements
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most important days in the Vedic Calendar. On this day, Surya, the sun, and Chandra, the moon, are both exalted. They are the most prominent of all the nine Grahas (planets) and only at this time of the year are they both simultaneously in the state of exaltation, which means the state of greatest brilliance. According to the Vedic texts, this was the day when the ancient Rishis (sages) performed the first Yagya in the history of mankind. This event also marked the beginning of a time, when people lived happily in tune with Natural Law. The special quality of this day is expressed in the word ‘Akshaya’ which means ‘undecaying’ or ‘everlasting’. Maharishi Yagyas performed on this day take advantage of this quality of time. By nourishing any specific Law of Nature through Maharishi Yagya performances, one gains increased support of Nature to help achieve the following desires in a more lasting way:
* To increase wealth
* Removal of resistances and troubles for happiness and health in life and promotion of positive support
* For gaining knowledge
* To increase harmony in married life
* Promoting good fortune; elimination of obstacles and promotion of supportive influence on the basis of the Kundali
* For promoting peace of mind
* To promote spiritual progress
* Support in court case
* For laying a foundation stone; positive influence for a new home; moving into a new home; ground breaking ceremony
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Live Internet broadcast: Global Country of World Peace to celebrate Day of Lasting Achievements, Monday 27 April

Global Good News 26 April 2009

On Monday 27 April 2009, the Global Country of World Peace celebrates the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, the Day of Lasting Achievements in the Vedic Calendar.

The grand, global celebration will be broadcast live via Internet on the Maharishi Channel, Channel 3.
The celebration will be held at the International Capital of the Global Country of World Peace in MERU, Netherlands; and will also feature special Vedic recitation performances by Maharishi Vedic Pandits at the Global Capital of World Peace in theBrahma-Sthan (geographical centre) of India.

Live broadcast schedule, Monday 27 April:
The broadcast will begin at 3:15 p.m. Central Europe Time (8:15 a.m. US Central Time).

For schedule updates and replays, please visit: Maharishi Channel schedule.

© Copyright 2009 Global Good News^®